Thrive Initiative building regional capacity around infant and early childhood mental health

When the Thrive Initiative began in 2007, there were few-to-no avenues for community stakeholders to connect around the topic of infant and early childhood mental health. While social workers, mental health and health care practitioners, and early care and education professionals were experiencing increases in behavior and social-emotional development issues among young children, they were too often working in isolation from their peers.

Thrive set out to fill this gap in rural communities by bringing together representatives of many different sectors to meet with peers, stay abreast of research and participate in training, share challenges and promising strategies, and collaborate on projects, all with the goal of strengthening the local network that serve young children and their families.

Steady interest and support

 

Over the past seven years, Thrive has continued to hold regular Action Team meeting with monthly participation ranging from 35 to 45 people per meeting. Currently, there are more than 200 local leaders actively involved in the Duluth-Proctor-Hermantown grassroots Action Team.

“The Thrive Initiative’s networking opportunity is extremely important.” —Mari Wagner, Polinksy Medical Rehabilation CenterOn annual basis, the Northland Foundation’s Thrive Initiative plans and hosts 10 to 15 in-depth trainings covering a variety of infant and early childhood topics. These training sessions were provided to hundreds of individuals representing diverse sectors of the community such as parents, early care and education providers, social workers, and medical and mental health professionals. 

“The Thrive Initiative’s networking opportunity is extremely important. Through our relationships and awareness of one another’s programs, we are better able to serve young children in supporting their social and emotional growth and provide parents with much needed resources,” said Mari Wagner, a Case Manager in Pediatrics at Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center.

Highlighted projects

 

Thrive is moving forward with the work of a strong team that has formed, with ongoing organizing and convening assistance from the Northland Foundation, and with funding support from partners such as Essentia Health.

An early outgrowth of Thrive was formation of the Early Childhood Mental Health Resource Team (ECMHRT), and it is still a source of critical support for professionals serving families with young children. At the monthly ECMHRT team meetings participants use a case presentation format, with signed permission from the family/client, allowing them to discuss and confer over details of the case with their peers. Members represent an array of service providers including Essentia Health, Miller Dwan’s Polinksy Medical Rehabilitation Center, and Amberwing.

“Through partnerships and connections formed through Thrive, there are now more resources and services available for young children and their families,” —Lynn Haglin, Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director, Northland Foundation

Another important initiative that has emerged from Thrive is the Circle of Security® Reflection Group, which helps participants to successfully implement the Circle of Security® Parenting DVD Program within their respective organizations. Providers help parents better understand their role and look through the lens of attachment theory when their children are having behavior problems. The monthly Reflection Group meetings help the providers to deepen their own learning experience, support one another, and remain on course with this intervention model.

In the coming months, Thrive will host a special daylong training on ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and the Circle of Security® Parenting Training. More information will be available on the Northland EVENTS page closer to the training dates.